…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
The family of Renell Charles, a schoolboy who was stabbed to death outside his school in Walthamstow, east London, have expressed their devastation following the tragedy.
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with his murder and was set to appear at Stratford Magistrates’ Court.
Renell, a pupil at Kelmscott School, was attacked after the end of the day on Friday and died at the scene despite emergency services’ efforts.
Students and teachers have laid flowers at the spot where Renell died outside the school gates, while the headteacher, Sam Jones, said the attack marked the “darkest of days” for the community.
Jones led a special assembly to comfort pupils before classes resumed on Tuesday.
A shrine built up at the crime scene on Markhouse Road, including an Arsenal shirt bearing the words “Renz’s World”, Renell’s favourite sweets, and packets of Skittles.
The eyewitness to the attack described how a teacher attempted to save Renell, shouting to stop the altercation before one of the two students was stabbed. The witness recounted seeing the stuffing of Renell’s jacket coming out from where the knife went in, while the attacker was in a mask and had a “very big knife”.
Renell’s murder occurred amid a weekend of bank holiday violence in London that saw several other incidents.
On Saturday evening, Wazabakana Elenda Jordan Kukabu, known as Jordan, 18, was stabbed to death near Dagenham Heathway Tube station.
A second male was taken to hospital with a knife injury, and a 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was released with no further action.
Sebastian Zon, 27, was stabbed to death in Hackney at around 11 pm on Friday, and Zbigniew Galek, 52, has been charged with his murder.
Two men aged 21 and 66 were treated for gunshot injuries following a shooting in Bow on Sunday evening.
The same night, two other men were injured in a drive-by shooting in Peckham.
A motorist was also shot in Mitcham on Saturday evening.
The increase in violence in London highlights a worrying trend that needs to be addressed.
The devastating impact on families, friends, and communities must not be underestimated, and effective measures need to be put in place to prevent such senseless violence from occurring.